Coin-lock mechanism



R. B.. BUZZAIRD.

com LOCK MECHANISMP APPLICATION FILED JULYII, 1920.

154.1 1,952. atented Apr. 4, 1922.

I I G e v G u? "IIU!I-IIIE"FEJ- t J.

.INVEN TOR.

BY v

' ATTORN UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

RALEIGH B. BUZZAIRD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OI COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO DAVLS AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEl/V YORK.

COIN-LO CK MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed July 17, 1920. Serial No. 397,122.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that l, RALEIGH l3. Bun ZAIIHI), a citizen of the United f ltates, and a resident of i Vashingtom' in the District of Columbia, have invented a new and use tul Improvement in Coin-Lock Mechanism, oi which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to coin-controlled locks for public checking lockers. In these locks the bolt which locks the locker door is normally retracted, with the key locked in the lock. The user places his belongings in the locker, closes the door, and having deposited a coin in the lock, manipulates the key or a knob so as to project the bolt. The key can now be removed and constitutes the users check. The key is used in unlocking, and when. it has been turned and the bolt retracted, the locker cannot be again locked or the key taken out of the lock without deposit of another coin. In locks of this character of which I am aware the turning oi" the key has caused the retraction of the bolt. lonsequently, there is likelihood oi? users losing their coins and their service by inadvertently turning the key in the unlocking direction immediately after looking, thereby retracting the bolt and settin the look so that deposit of another coin is necessary. To overcome this diiliculty various fool-proof devices have been incorporated in the locks.

According to the present invention the key mechanism and the bolt are independently operable in respect to unlocking. That is to say, turning of the key or key-cylinder does not cause the bolt to move backward, but causes the removal of blocking, locking or holding means which prevents retraction of the bolt when the locker is locked and the key out of the lock; and lie traction of the bolt is then produced or caused by the manipulation of an independent knob or handle. Therefore, it the user mistakenly turns or permits turning of the key backward after looking he does not lose his service, because the bolt stays projected, and the key-operated mechanism is free to turn forward again to the position in which it locks the bolt in such projected condition and permits withdrawal of the key. in other words, when the bolt is in projected or door-locking condition the key-operated mechanism is free to turn forward and backward in th'eabsence of a coin, without moving the bolt, but the key can only be taken out in a position which causes the bolt to be locked against retraction. in the normal or unlocked condition of the lock the key cannot be taken out by a mischievous person, because if it is turned forward, without a coin having been deposited, it is prevented from turning far enough to be pulled out by reason of the connected blocking member striking against the side of the bolt.

The foregoing novel matters of construction and operation may be embodied in numerous specifically diilerent organizations, in which the precise relation and interaction oi the parts may be varied. The preferred embodiment illustrated herein, however, possesses special advantages, and comprises a combination including a bolt having a knob to retract it, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, and a key-cylinder operating, on the one hand, a coin-mover to disengage the detent and, on the other hand, a blocking or locking device cooperative with the bolt to hold it projected. The key-cylinder by its customary tumblers is, of course, locked in the locking position when the key is withdrawn, thereby locking the blocking means andin turn locking the bolt so that it cannot be retracted by its handle. Preferably thebolt is spring-actuated, and the keyoperated mechanism is therefore operatively separated from the bolt in respect to both locking and unlocking, but in some instances this might be varied.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the lock, in the unlocked condition;

Fig. 2is a rear elevationthereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, showing the locking condition;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4- of ig. 2; V

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view. 7

The particular illustrated construction will now be briefly described.

The parts of the lock are carried by, and for the most part upon the rear side of, a

front plate 1. On the outer side, said plate presents, toward the bottom, the key-hole end of a key-cylinder 2 and its casing 3, a slotted coin-entrance 4 above the key-cylinder, a knob 5 above the coin slot, its stem operating in a horizontal slot 6 in the plate, and a window 7 at the top affording view of a counter 8. The key-cylinder 2 and cylinder casing 3 represent a suitable or known key-lock unit the mechanism of which is such that the key can be removed only in the locking position, being locked in the lock in the unlocked position, and the cylinder or key-operated member being locked by the tumblers when the key is Withdrawn, These matters, being well understood, require no illustration.

On the back of the plate, a sliding bolt 9 is suitably guided, and is connected to the knob 5. A spring 10 acting upon a pin 11 projecting upward from the bolt operates to project it; and the same pin may be used to actuate the counter, through a lever 12 slotted to receive the bent upper end of the pin.

The bolt is normally held retracted by a detent 13, which is shown as a slidable memher mounted upon the inner sideof the front flange 1 of the plate, Where it is held and guided by pins 14 passing through slots in the body of the detent. The specific form and mounting of the detent may, however, be varied. The detent cooperates with a shoulder or recess 15 in the bolt, and has a spring 16 which urges it to engage therewith. a

The key-cylinder carries, and thus operates, a turning coin-mover 17, which causes the edge of a. coin 18 to bear upon alug or shoulder 19 on the detent and thereby withdraw the same from the bolt against the.

action of the spring 16. In the particular preferred construction illustrated the coinmover is a flat pocket supported in forwardly projecting relation by an angled plate or bracket 20, one arm of which is united to the rear end of the key-cylinder. Normally the pocket overhangs the top of the cylinder and easing, with its open front end in proximity to the coin slot- 4, so that the coin is passed directly into the coinmover. The forward side of the pocket is also open to permit the coin to project so as to catch the detent, and its rear side and rear end are closed. Thenlane of the pocket is substantially tangential to the are. of movement, or somewhat inclined downwardly and rearwardly away from the coinentrance, as shown, to facilitate introduction of the coin. This construction is simple and advantageous, but the invention is not neces sarily limited thereto, or indeed to the particular type of coin parts or the manner of operating the same, since numerous other coin-controlled arrangement are known.

According to the invention, the bolt when it has been projected as the result of the operation of the coin-mechanism, is blocked or locked against retraction by a part which is operatively connected with or related to the key-cylinder. In the illustrative construction said part comprises a member 21 guided for vertical sliding movement in a bracket 22, its lower portion formed with a horizontal .slot 23, in which works an eccentric pin 24 projecting from the rear portion of the coin-pocket bracket 20 that is secured to the end of the key-cylinder. The upper portion 25 of the member is disposed in the plane of the bolt 9, and is normally beneath and spaced from the same. but when the bolt is projected, it is movedby the turning of the key-cylinder to position behind the end of the bolt, so that it prevents rearward movement thereof.

The key-cylinder and the connected blocking member 21 and coin-mover 17 are let erably urged to and yieldingly held in normal position by a spring 26, which is shown connected to the movable pin 24 and a fixed pin 27. This spring insures the coin-pocket being in proper receivin relation to the coin-entrance.-

The operation of the illustrated-form of the invention is as vfollows: In order to lock hisbelongings in the locker, the user slips a coin of the proper denomination through the slot 4, the coin seating itself in the pocket. Then he turns the key in the locking direction. This causes the coinmover to carry the coin against the lug on the detent 13 and by continued movement to displace the detent out of engagement with the bolt. During this movement the blocking member 21 is also being moved but not far enough to strike against the under side of the bolt. Whenthe detent is withdrawn the bolt is advanced by its spring. Continued movement of the key and key-cylinder now brings the end. of the blocking member behind the end of the bolt, and in the fully-actuated position of the ke oylinder the user can pull out the key. he tumblers ofthe key-cylinder and easing then look the key-cylinder, and consequently the blocking member, in this position. Vi'hen the coin is carried downward beyond the detent it falls out of the coinpocket. proper manner, causing the bolt to be projected and the coin discharged, the operator If after. turning the key in the,

should allow the key mechanism to return to normal position, no harm will be done, because the bolt will not be thereby retracted and the key can again be turned in the original direction to bring the blocking member into locking relation to the bolt.

To unlock the door, the user puts the key in the key-cylinder, thereby unlocking the same so that it can turn. Through force applied through the key, or in this instance through the power of the spring 26, the key cylinder and connected parts are turned baclnvard, thereby moving the blocking member clear of the bolt and restoring the coinporket to position behind the coin-entrance. Then, by a separate operation, the operator moves the bolt back by its handle 5, and when the same is retracted it is automatically caught and held by the detent. The door subject to the lock is now unlocked and the key is locked in the lock. Theft or loss of the coin in this condition is prevented by the fact that, if the keyand key-cylinder are turned forward in the absence of a coin,

. the detent is of course not retracted and the blocking member 21 strikes aganst the under side of the bolt and prevents the key being turned far enough to permit it to be pulled out of the cylinder.

Means are preferably provided for yieldingly holding the key-cylinder and thereto connected parts in the locking condition, to facilitate the removal of the key, after which of course the cylinder is positively locked by its tumblers. Such yielding means may be embodied in a variety of ways, as for example a spring projection 28 on the blocking member 21, having a rounded nose to catch in a notch 29 in the rear end of the bolt 9. This snap need not necessarily actually hold the cylinder against return movement under the action of the spring 26, as it will be suiiicient if it locates the position in which the key can be withdrawn, and partially resists the spring. The snap, can, however, be omitted.

While the illustrated embodiment has been described in detail, it is to be understood that numerous changes may be made in the general construction and in respect to the form and the particular manner of connecting and relating the parts, without departing from the essential matters of novelty as set forth in the appended claims.

"What I claim as new is:

1. A coin-controlled lock, comprising a bolt, a knob for retracting the same, a detent normally holding the bolt against movement from retracted to projected or looking position, means whereby the bolt is freed through the deposit of a coin, and key-operated means independent of the bolt in re spect to unlocking and including a part for locking the bolt in projected position.

2. A coin-controlled lock, comprising a bolt, a knob connected therewith, a detent for holding the same retracted, means whereby the bolt is freed through the deposit of a coin, key-mechanism wherein the key is retained except in its fully actuated condition, and a blocking member operativcly connected with said key-mechanism and adapted to prevent retraction of the bolt when the lock has been operated, and to be blocked by reason ofthe bolt in the normal condition so as to prevent removal of the key, 1

3. A coin controlled lock comprising, a bolt, a knob connected therewith, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, key-operated mechanism, coin-means operated by said key-operated mechanism to free the bolt, and a blocking member also operable by the key-operated. mechanism to cooperate with the bolt.

4'. A coin-controlled lock, comprising a bo1t,'a spring for projecting the bolt, a knob for retracting the same, a detent normally holding the bolt against movement from retracted to projected or locking position, means whereby the bolt is freed through the deposit of a coin, and key-operated means independent of the bolt in respect to unlocking and including a part for locking the bolt in projected position.

5. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, a spring for projecting the bolt, a knobconnected therewith, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, key-operated mechanism, coin-means operable by said key-operated mechanism to free the bolt, and a blocking member also operable by the key-operated mechanism to cooperatewith the bolt.

6. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, a knob connected with the bolt, and keyoperated coin controlled means separate from the bolt for releasing the bolt from the detent and for locking the bolt in its locking position.

7. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, a spring for actuating the bolt to lock, a knob for retracting the bolt, and key-open ated coin-controlled means separate from the bolt for disengaging the detent and preventing retraction of the bolt.

8. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, a knob connected with the bolt, a key cylinder, a turning coin-mover connected to the key cylinder in operative relation to the detent, and a bolt-locking member also connected with the key cylinder.

9. A coin-controlled lock comprising a bolt, a spring for actuating the bolt to lock, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, a knob connected with the bolt, key-operated coin-controlled means separate from the bolt for disengaging the detent and preventing retraction of the bolt, and a spring for restoring said key-operated coin-controlled means.

10. In a coin-controlled lock, the combination of a spring-actuated bolt, a detent for holding the bolt retracted, a knob for retracting the bolt, a key-cylinder, an inclined forwardly overhanging coin-pocket connected to the inner portion of the key-cylinder, and a member operable by the keyeylinder to lock the bolt in looking position.

11. A coin-controlled lock having a front plate with a coin-slot, a spring-actuated bolt, a detent therefor, a knob for retracting the bolt, 2, ke -eylinder, a coin-pocket connected to the ey-cylinder with its entrance forwardly disposed in proximity to the coinslot and having a lateral exit, and a member operable by the key-eylinder to lock the bolt in locking position.

12, In a coin-controlled lock, the combination with a spring-actuated knob-retracted bolt of a key-cylinder, a blocking member cooperative with the bolt, and a member secured to the inner end of the key-cylinder jected position, and yielding means for 10- catingor holding the position of the cylinder in which the ke can be removed.

RAL IGH B. BUZZAIRD. 

